Taste of Solvang First-ever Dessert Contest Winners Revealed

The winners competed and were revealed tonight (Friday, March 15, 2013) at the Veterans Memorial Hall in Solvang during the popular Taste of Solvang Dessert Reception which also featured wine tasting from local vintners and live music by the Tim Buley Band. Ten professionals and seven amateur sweet treat-makers participated. The following three winners received a custom Taste of Solvang ribbon, apron and a review in Edible Santa Barbara magazine.

Best Dessert–Amateur: Lana Clark works in Solvang and is a Lompoc resident who won with her “Grandma Ruth’s Homemade Peanut Brittle.” Mrs. Clark said, “I am so surprised to win and proud that the judges liked my family recipe.”

Best Dessert–Professional: Carol Krivulka and Elsemarie Petersen, co-owners of Ingeborg’s Danish Chocolates in Solvang for their Dark/Light Truffles. Mrs. Petersen remarked, “I cannot believe it, there are so many incredible desserts here! Thank you!”

Best Dessert–People’s Choice (voted by the 300+ guests in attendance): Bent Olsen, owner of Olsen’s Danish Village Bakery in Solvang for his Raspberry Crisp Delights. Mr. Olsen has participated in all 21 Taste of Solvang festivals and enthused, “I am so happy to have this award after all these years! What an honor!”

Judges for the first-ever Taste of Solvang Dessert Contest were: George Yatchisin, currently a Food Writer at the Santa Barbara Independent, after serving as their Food Editor (helping create the Foodie Awards, Santa Barbara County’s premier culinary honors), blogs at George Eats and co-hosts a radio show; Chef Pascale Beale, president and founder of Pascale’s Kitchen, a Santa Barbara-based Mediterranean-style cooking school, product line as well as an author of five cookbooks and a regular columnist for Edible Santa Barbara; and Rick Longoria, owner/winemaker of Longoria Wines established in 1982 featuring hand-crafted varietals from the Santa Ynez Valley and beyond.

More about Taste of Solvang:

Presented by the Solvang Conference & Visitors Bureau since 1993 with sponsorship support from the Santa Ynez Valley Hotel Association, Taste of Solvang features locally grown foods, wines and diverse cuisine to celebrate the rich cultural and culinary heritage of the area. This year’s events began on Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at the Solvang Village Farmers Market with the Chef Walk & Demos series. Throughout the five days, Taste of Solvang Luxury Santa Ynez Valley Wine Tours are offered including taste stops at four wineries, gourmet picnic lunch and souvenir wine glass with special pricing and itineraries by Grapeline Wine Tours; Serenity Limousine & Sedans; and Stagecoach Tours.

Here are the remaining Taste of Solvang events scheduled.

Saturday, March 16, 2013

11:00 am-4:00pm: Walking Smorgaasbord features 40+ taste stops around the village featuring delicious bites of Danish, American, and international cuisines offered by restaurants, bakeries as well as retailers. Ticket purchase includes detailed map and menu plus valuable coupons for “day of” specials and some coupons for future dates as well. Ala carte tickets available for purchase at Taste of Solvang ticket booth, 1639 Copenhagen Drive, on day of event; $30 per person).

5:00-8:00pm: Wine & Beer Tasting Walk offering 12 stops* at downtown tasting rooms pouring their vintages into the prized souvenir Taste of Solvang etched glass. Ala carte tickets available for purchase at Taste of Solvang ticket booth, 1639 Copenhagen Drive, on day of event; $40 per person, must be 21 years or older—ticket valid for both Saturday and Sunday).

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Noon-4:00pm: Wine & Beer Tasting Walk offering 12 stops* at downtown tasting rooms pouring their vintages into the prized souvenir Taste of Solvang etched glass. Ala carte tickets available for purchase at Taste of Solvang ticket booth, 1639 Copenhagen Drive, on day of event; $40 per person, must be 21 years or older—ticket valid for both days).

*12 Stops along the 2013 Solvang Wine & Beer Tasting Walk (Both Days)

Carivintas Winery, Casa Cassara, Dascomb Cellars, Lions Peak Vineyard & Winery, Lucas & Lewellen, Olive House, Presidio Vineyard & Winery, Randy’s Taproom, SevTap Winery, Sort This Out Cellars, Toccata, and Wandering Dog Wine Bar.